"Matt," Josh said, balancing his phone against his cheek with his shoulder, "come on, man. Pick up I need you."

"Hey, Josh," Matt yawned. "It's six in the morning. What's up?"

"Mari, stay put!" Josh yelled, jumping up and throwing his shoes on. "Go to your dad's house. Don't tell anyone where you are, okay?!"

"Josh, what's going on?" Matt asked worriedly.

"Isaiah called me an hour ago," Josh said, throwing on his coat.

"B-but he's in prison," Matt stammered.

"They didn't- Mari, just promise me you'll do as I say, alright?"

Mari nodded.

"Where are you guys?" Matt asked hurriedly.

"Still at home," Josh sighed. "Get to Jacob's house. Now."

"On it," Matt sighed. "How's Mari doing? Catherine's asking."

"Fine. She's going to meet up with you guys at Jacob's."

"And you? Will you be meeting up with us?"

"Mari is on her way. I'll see you later," Josh said, hanging up quickly.

"Josh?" Matt groaned.

"What's wrong?" Catherine sighed as she held her sleeping daughter.

"Isaiah's back," Matt said softly. "Get Logan."

"Okay," Catherine nodded. "Where are we going?"

"Jacob's," Matt mumbled.

Cath immediately bundled the twins and the family headed out the door.

—————

"Cath, thank god," Mari sighed, getting out of the car and embracing her friend. "I was so worried."

"Me too," Cath frowned. "I can't believe Isaiah is after us again. Jacob's dead. What does he want with us?"

"Me," Mari sighed, "and Matt. Revenge for what he's lost."

"Great," Catherine sighed. "Just what I need."

—————

Josh snuck slowly into the large house. Finally, Isaiah had decided to end this.

Josh knew he was fortunate. Fortunate to have gotten away with his life. He knew he wasn't the same man he had been two years ago. Mari had changed him, life had changed him. He could only pray it was for the better.

"So," Josh said, clicking an arrow into place and sitting down in a lavish armchair., "today, we end this. I commend your choice of dates."

Isaiah chuckled darkly, not even phased. "And why's that?"

"You think that Mel's death would make me weak?" Josh scoffed. "This day is when I fight my hardest. For her and for every other innocent person you've hurt."

Isaiah scoffed. "Face it, Taylor. You talk a big game, but we both know that you're just a scared little boy."

"I used to be," Josh shrugged. "I also used to be a man that believed justice was achieved on its own accord." He armed himself and pulled the bowstring back to his chin. "Now I know I have to fight for it myself."

"You want to kill me? Fine. I've got nothing left to live for," Isaiah shrugged. "You wouldn't be accomplishing anything."

"I'd be saving people. That's enough," Josh said sternly. "Any last words?"

Caroline quickly ran up to Josh. "Josh, stop. It's a trap, please."

"Someone shut her up!" Isaiah yelled.

The small red dot appeared on Caroline's back.

"Caroline, get out of here. Isaiah, this is your last chance!" Josh yelled.

"Josh, don't do this!" Matt screamed, rushing through the back door and standing in front of Isaiah. "Isaac Taylor, you're no killer."

"Matt, move!" Josh yelped, trying to push Caroline out of the way.

Isaiah looked at Matt with confusion. "What are you doing?"

"Oh, believe me, I want you to feel pain beyond you can imagine," Matt hissed, "but not like this. Isaac, drop the bow."

"Josh, please get out of here," Caroline exclaimed.

"Someone shut her up!" Isaiah yelled again.

"You shut up," Caroline muttered.

It all happened within a fraction a second, a blur too fast for Josh to comprehend.

"Thank you," Caroline whispered, tears welling in her eyes as she grasped his hand.

"No," Josh whimpered, shaking his head. "Please, no."

She was on the floor faster than he could remember.

His finger pulled back on the trigger as he let out a blood curdling scream.

"Matthew?" Josh whimpered, making his way across the room. "Matt, can you hear me?"

"Caroline?" Isaiah's voice trembled. "I-I didn't mean it like that, you morons!"

—————

"Hello?" came Catherine's voice over the phone.

"Ma'am," the police officer said through the phone. "Am I speaking to Mrs. Collins?"

"Yes," Catherine replied. "Is something wrong?"

"I just got a request from someone on scene to call you. I'm afraid someone in relation or in correlation to you and Mrs. Taylor has passed away."

"What?" Catherine gasped. "Who?"

"Not sure, Ma'am. Just...just get here as soon as you can," the officer said, clearly troubled about what he had seen.

"Hey," Mari grinned, barreling down the stairs. "What's up? Any news?"

"Someone died," Catherine frowned. "We need to go. Carlos, watch the twins!"

"Will do," he nodded.

Mari's face turned red. "What?" She said weakly. "Who?"

"They didn't say who. We just- we need to go," Cath stammered.

"Is Isaac okay?!" Mari yelped, grabbing her hand as her eyes filled with horror. "Is he okay?!"

"I don't know," Catherine cried, pulling her friend out the door and running to the car.

Mari stared into the dash board, her heart pounding a millions miles an hour. "I can't- I can't breathe, Cath."

"Just calm down. I'm sure they're both fine," Catherine nodded optimistically, though she too was silently panicking.

"No, Catherine," Mari whispered, putting a hand on the arm rest and squeezing it tightly, "I-I don't know what's happening."

"Take deep breaths."

When they arrived at the scene, Catherine leapt out of the car. "What happened?! Who died?!"

Josh pushed his way through the crowd. "Cath?!" He yelled. "Is that you?!"

Mari clenched her eyes closed and let a few tears fall. "I must just be scared, that's all. That's all," she said to herself.

Catherine looked to Mari. "Are you alright?"

"Isaac?" Mari asked, covering her mouth. "Oh my god, tell me he's there. Tell me I'm not dreaming."

"Josh, over here!" Catherine called.

Josh ran up to the car and seized her by the shoulders, his face stained with tears. "He's fine. Matt's fine. Shot, but fine."

"What? He got shot?" Catherine questioned worriedly, her face turning white.

Mari gave a yelp and clenched her fists.

Josh's eyes filled with shame. "Yes. But he's going to be alright. He's with Jack in surgery now."

Catherine's attention snapped to Mari. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," Mari's voice trembled. "Tell me he's here?"

"It's Josh," Catherine nodded. "Mari, your seat is wet. Please tell me you just spilled water."

"Here, let me through," Josh said, opening her door and leaning down beside her. "Hey, kid. Don't cry. I'm okay."

"I'm fine," Mari smiled weakly. "Really. I'm just glad you're-" A gasp interrupted her sentence and she bit down on her cheek until it nearly bled. "You're okay."

Josh put a hand to her cheek. "Are you alright, Honey?"

"Fine," Mari tried to smile.

"Mari, you're in pain," Josh said worriedly.

"Cramps, that's all it is," Mari laughed, bracing herself on his shoulder and attempting to get out of the car. She collapsed back into the seat. "I'm just tired."

"Mari," Catherine said worriedly, "we need to get you to the hospital. Fast."

"I said that I'm fine!" Mari yelled loudly.

"Mari," Catherine said calmly, "Honey, your water broke. We need to go to the hospital."

"No," Mari whimpered. "It couldn't have."

"It did. Trust me, I know what it looks like," Catherine nodded. "Josh, get in the back. I'll drive."

"Okay," Josh said quickly, closing Mari's door and hoping in the back seat.

Catherine quickly got in a drove off. She grabbed Mari's hand. "Calm down. It's going to be okay. Just don't push."

"Why would I push?!" Mari snapped. "Absolutely nothing is happening!"

"She's not nine months yet," Josh stammered. "She can't- it can't happen now."

"Well, then she went into early labor," Catherine shrugged.

"It's too early," Josh said, his eyes full of panic. "Cath, it's way too early. Like dangerously early."

"She's thirty-two weeks. It could be worse," Catherine replied, trying to sound optimistic.

"Thirty-two," Josh yelped. "Thirty-two weeks, Cath!"

"Isaac, please," Mari cried, "stop reminding me. I said I'm fine." She grabbed Josh's hand and gave a yelp of pain. "What was that?!"

"A contraction," Catherine sighed. "Don't worry, we'll be at the hospital soon."

"A...contraction?" Mari whimpered. "No, no, that can't happen. It's gonna stop and then the baby will just kinda hang out a while longer. Like forever. We can stop this, right? Josh? Tell me we can make it stop!"

Catherine put a hand on her friend's shoulder. "Mari, you're going to have a baby. Like soon. Just calm down, alright? It's gonna be fine. Now, the survival rate for thirty-two weeks is about ninety-five percent, so we don't have to worry there. Just relax, okay?"

"Um, no, I'm not," Mari laughed. "Isaac, tell her I'm not."

"Labor?" Josh stammered in disbelief.

"You're not helping, Babe," Mari winced.

Catherine pulled into a parking space. "Okay, we're here. Josh, help Mari our of the car."

"I'm not going," Mari stated firmly.

"Mari," Catherine said firmly, "do you want to have your baby in the front seat of my car? No. No, you do not. Get out."

"I'm not having a baby!" Mari yelled. "I refuse to! I- god, that hurts."

"Mari, so help me God, you will get out of the car or I will carry you into the hospital myself. Get up," Catherine groaned.

"Fine," Mari sighed, allowing Josh to help her up.

The trio made their way into the hospital.

Once Mari was being helped, Catherine went to a nurse. "Hi," she said timidly. "My husband Matthew Collins is in surgery with Dr. Jack Taylor. Do you have any information on how he is?"

"He actually just got out of surgery," the nurse nodded. "I could take you to his room, if you'd like."

"Yes, thank you," Catherine nodded. She was brought the room, and ran to her husband's side, grasping his hand. "Matt, Baby, what happened?" She cried. "Are you in pain? Do you need me to get a nurse?"

Matt laughed deliriously. "That was the stupidest thing I've ever done in my life."

"Where were you shot?" Catherine asked worriedly.

"Shoulder," Matt said, his voice slurred. "I think the arrowhead's still in there."

"They removed it, Honey," Catherine said softly.

"That's funny," Matt laughed. "It still feels pointy when I poke it."

"Don't touch it," Catherine shuddered. "Please, just don't."

"Josh has amazing aim," Matt said, his eyes wide. "He's like twice the man I'll ever be. Like if I was Captain America, he'd be Thor. I'm like Firmin to his Erik. You should have seen him...well, I technically didn't see him. I just saw the arrow and zhhhhhlop, poink, here we are."

"Shh. Just go to sleep, Honey," Catherine smiled. "You need to rest."

"You know what we should do? We should take the kids bungee jumping! Cause they like that chair thing, so a cliff's just a bit bigger-"

"Shh," Catherine chuckled. "We'll talk about it later."

—————

"Have you considered all your options?" The lady at the desk asked.

Mari dug her nails into Josh's shoulder. "Epidural. Give me the epidural."

"Is that what she really wants or-"

"Give it to her," Josh stammered, "before my arm falls off."

"Alright," the nurse nodded.

"What is this? Hour two?" Josh asked faintly.

"It's been twenty minutes," Mari cried. "I'm gonna die."

"Follow me please," the lady chuckled, leading them forward.

"Isaac, I can't do this."

"Yes, you can," Josh nodded. "Don't worry, Hon. I'm right here with you."

"Where's Jack?" Mari asked, leaning on his shoulder. "I want Jack."

"Dr. Taylor just got out of surgery. I can send for him," the nurse replied.

"Yes, please," Mari whimpered as another wave of pain coursed through her. "How did I get into this mess?!"

"Just breathe," Josh stammered.

"Just- just tell me it's going to be okay?"

"You're going to be fine," Josh nodded, kissing her cheek.

Jack came rushing down the hall way, his white coat flying behind him. "What's going on?!"

"Mari went into early labor," Josh sighed.

Jack's eyes narrowed. "What? Why? Does this have to do with Matt?"

"I heard Catherine say that it could have been due to stress," Josh shrugged.

"Josh, can I speak to you..alone?!"

Josh nodded.

"Listen, we've kept this between me and Mari, but that kid's underweight and underdeveloped. It wouldn't have mattered if she was carried to term, but this changes things. Isaac Taylor, so help me god, if we lose this kid because of some stupid, selfish situation you put yourself into, I will hunt you down and kill you. Personally."

Josh looked down in shame. "I might have done something stupid."

"Yeah, I can almost guarantee it. I have to go try to save your daughter, if you'll excuse me," Jack spat, pushing him out of the way.

—————

"Carlos, hey," Catherine sighed, holding her phone to her ear. "Listen, Matt was shot. I'll need you to take care of the twins for a little while longer than expected. If you need me, call me."

"Okay," Carlos nodded. "Gosh, is Matt okay?"

"They say he'll be fine," Catherine replied nervously. "He's resting at the moment. Poor thing."

"Thank God he's alright," Carlos sighed in relief.

Catherine said a few words of goodbye, hung up, and moved back to her husband's side, putting a hand to his cheek. "Gosh, Matt," she whispered, "how do you manage to get yourself into these situations?"

"It's a talent I always have possessed," Matt sighed.

"How are you feeling?"

"Like I got shot in the shoulder by my best friend."

"Do need me to get a nurse to give you something?" Catherine asked, biting her lip.

"No," Matt sighed. "Is Caroline okay?"

"I got a call," Catherine said hesitantly. "She didn't make it."

"Oh," Matt frowned.

"Yeah," Catherine nodded gravely. "Can I kill Josh now?"

"He wasn't thinking straight."

"I wanna murder him."

"He was trying to help people, Cath," Matt sighed. "I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. There was no right or wrong."

"I should have stopped you," Catherine frowned as tears welled in her eyes.

"Hey, hey, hey," Matt said, putting a hand to her cheek. "This had nothing to do with you. I needed you safe. The kids needed you safe. Mari and her baby needed Josh safe."

"And I need you to be okay," Catherine sighed, a tear running down her cheek.

"I know, and you'll never lose me, I swear."

"Thank you," Catherine whispered. "Did they say when you can go home?"

"Not sure," Matt sighed. "I think I'm gonna catch some sleep."

"Alright," Catherine nodded, kissing his cheek. "I love you."

"I love you too."

—————

"One more push, honey," Jack said.

"I can't," Mari sobbed, clenching the sheets. "I can't."

"Okay," Jack chuckled, "I lied. Like two more."

"Jack, I swear, I'll murder you."

Jack whispered something to the nurse next to him.

"It's okay, Mari," Josh stammered. "You're doing great...I think."

Mari felt the pressure build and gave another cry. "Please say it's over."

A little cry sounded.

"It's over," Jack nodded, cutting the umbilical cord.

The nurse quickly took the baby and brought her out of the room.

Mari's eyes widened in fear. "Isaac? What's happening?"

"Shh. Rest, Mariah. You've done good," Jack sighed, biting his lip and hurrying after the nurse.

"Where are they taking her?"

"Relax, Honey," Josh said, trying to hide his worry.

Mari nodded and closed her eyes.

—————

Cath made her way down the hall before running into Jack. "How is she?!"

"She's fine," Jack nodded, his face red. "It was hard, but she did it."

Catherine gave a sigh of relief. "Can I see her?"

Jack nodded. "In recovery. Room two twenty-one."

"Thank you," Catherine sighed, running down the hall. She quickly found the room. "Hey, Mari. How'd it go?"

Mari opened her mouth to speak, but no words seemed to come out. Instead, she buried her head in Josh's chest and cried.

Catherine put a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Shh. She'll be fine. Don't worry."

"It's not looking good," Josh mouthed, shaking his head, his face pale and clearly distraught.

"She was crying," Mari told Cath. "I heard her crying. She was scared."

"Honey, babies cry when they're born. It doesn't mean they're scared. She was just announcing her presence to the world," Catherine said softly. "She's loud, I heard her. She's gonna be an opera singer like her mother."

"She was scared," Mari whimpered.

Josh looked up at Catherine helplessly. "I-I don't know what to do," he admitted, trying not to cry in front of his wife.

"Just think about good things. You'll get to hold her once she's stabilized. That feeling is amazing," Catherine smiled.

"If she stabilizes," was the silent echo of terror in both Josh and Mari's heads.

"Isaac?" Mari asked softly. "Go check? Cath, stay?"

"Of course," Catherine nodded as Josh left. "How do you feel?"

"Terrified," Mari said slowly. "Traumatized."

Catherine chuckled. "Yeah, having the twins isn't exactly on my list of favorite experiences."

"It's my fault," Mari said, staring at the wall. "It's my fault she's scared. I didn't talk to her. I didn't want her."

"Hey," Cath said softly, "she's not scared. Babies naturally cry when they're born. You did nothing wrong."

"What if she dies, Catherine?!" Mari said, breaking into tears. "What if she never knows that I want her now? That all I want is for her to be okay and fine?"

Catherine embraced her gently. "I'm sure she knows."

—————

Josh stared through the glass at his daughter. His eyes were tired with the weight of all that he'd seen, his shoulders heavy with the burden of worlds. "How long?"

"We'll see," Jack sighed, crossing his arms. "If all goes well, a week or two. If not-"

"Say no more," Josh whimpered.

"I will do everything in my power, Isaac, you know that."

"I know," Josh nodded.

Jack put an arm around him. "Congratulations. You're officially a father now."

"Funny," Josh sighed, "I feel the same. Only more terrified."

Jack nodded. "Josh?"

"Yeah?"

"I proposed to Juliette."

"Wow," Josh said, his eyes fixed on his daughter, "that's big."

"Yeah," Jack smiled, his own gaze fixed on the baby.